https://geniuslabgear.com/blogs/for-scientists.atomGenius Lab Gear - The Digital Lab Notebook - Blog for Scientists and Science Lovers2020-02-01T20:44:00-05:00Genius Lab Gearhttps://geniuslabgear.com/blogs/for-scientists/best-chemistry-blogs-list2020-02-01T20:44:00-05:002020-04-04T10:54:38-04:0013 Best Chemistry Blogs in 2020Derek Miller
Sometimes you want to avoid doing work but still love chemistry. For that all-too-often occasion, we’ve curated this list of diverse chemistry blogs to help you indulge your love of chemistry. Maybe you’ll even learn something.

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Sometimes you want to avoid doing work but still love chemistry. For that all-too-often occasion, we’ve curated this list of diverse chemistry blogs to help you indulge your love of chemistry. Maybe you’ll even learn something.

This list (in no particular order) covers blogs big and small, old and new. We’ve included notes on which are most active and easiest to read or navigate. Everything is hyperlinked to help you get there quickly and follow these bloggers on social media. Happy reading!

Compound Interest Chemistry Blog

Since 2013 this blog run by Andy Brunning, a chemistry educator in Cambridge, has been explaining the complex chemistry of real-world problems to the public using intricate infographics and visual aids. With over 300k likes on Facebook and 70k followers on Twitter(@CompoundChem), audiences have endorsed the accuracy and beauty of his graphic style which makes him one of the elite Science Communicators in all of Chemistry.

Crystals and Catalysts

One of the most modern chemistry blogs on this list that will appeal to students and young professionals on their way to joining the chemistry community. Blogger Mariam Zaki has a degree in Medicinal Chemistry and translates every new blog post into Arabic to help share her chemistry blogging to a more diverse audience. Her topics include science communication, science policy in government, chemistry as it applies to every-day health decisions and news from the chemistry community. Mariam’s blog is easy to read and written in a conversational tone, plus it’s still very active as of November 2019. Make sure to follow her active social media accounts below!

Chemical Connections – Blog by Stuart Cantrill

From the chief editor of @NatureChemistry, Stuart Cantrill’s blog “Chemical Connections” meanders through everything a chemist would find interesting on the internet. He’s exceptionally active on his Twitter account @StuartCantrill and many of his blog posts reflect the goings-on in the social media communities in chemistry. Make sure to see his list of chemist accounts on Twitter! He also delves into the chemistry of making gin and chemistry-focused perspectives on other every-day topics in a natural and straightforward voice.

Picture It Chemistry

This unique blog makes a point to show images of foods and products (photographed in their lab!) which contain the molecules being discussed. Run by the University of Bristol School of Chemistry, they delve into historical anecdotes of the molecules and how their chemical properties affect the taste, color, nutrition and hazards of the final product. They do an excellent job of citing journal articles and communicating the science behind the properties in a semi-technical voice. My favorite part is their molecules in the kitchen page! They are very active as of January 2020 so make sure to also follow on Twitter@PictureItChem!

Doctor Galactic & The Lab Coat Cowboy

A fun blog by an editor at the Royal Society of Chemistry that covers many random topics on the chemistry community. “Doctor Galactic” holds challenges and events on social media for prizes in collaboration with the major chemistry journals and magazines. It’s not as active as previously, but it’s at least worth following @RealTimeChem on Twitter so you can find any new challenges, games or announcements.

ChemJobber - Chemistry Job Finding Blog

A blog dedicated to helping chemists find jobs also brimming with other helpful blog posts and news from the chemistry world. Not only can you find leads for job postings, but also statistics of the job market and even a special section for chemistry post-doc positions. The site is fairly easy to navigate given the huge number of posts and is extremely active as of January 2020. Make sure to follow along on Twitter @ChemJobber as well!

Chem-bla-ics Blog: Using computers to solve chemistry problems

Chemblaics (pronounced “chem-bla-ics”) is the science that uses computers to solve problems in chemistry, biochemistry and related fields using open source software, open data, and open standards, making experimental results reproducible and validatable. This is a very niche but interesting blog to expose you to a field you may not have been aware of. If you enjoy chemistry, data science, programming and modeling, this may be the right field for you.

Organic Chemistry Portal

An impressive collection of thousands of technical posts outlining organic chemistry reactions from recently published papers. This is a serious blog for serious organic chemists in research and industry. They also include organic chemistry job postings in the sidebar and a solid collection of other resources from around the internet. Highly active and up-to-date as of January 2020. They also have a small Twitter and massive Facebook page.

Chemical Forums

Not a blog per-say, but a great place to read and discuss chemistry with others from around the world. Some threads are focused on homework help for each chemistry subject but others are for those practicing chemistry and exchanging technical knowledge.

Med-Chemist – Blog on Quintessential Medicinal Chemistry

If you’re pursuing a career in medicinal chemistry, this is the most focused blog for you. It’s a simple 1-page scrollable feed focusing on news in medicinal chemistry, especially FDA approvals and insight on the drug’s chemistry and how it’s effective for each application. Near-daily posts in 2020 will give you plenty of reading to keep up with current news in the field.

Chemistry World – Official blog and news of the Royal Society of Chemistry

This is a massive high-quality blog and news outlet on everything chemistry. They get contributions from the most prominent chemists and chemistry writers in the world. Topics include cutting-edge chemistry news, historical anecdotes, biographies, interesting insight on chemistry in every-day life and even career advice. Definitely follow them on Twitter @ChemistryWorld – one of the largest chemistry accounts in existence. You can’t go wrong with the free content here, but make sure to also spend time on the other underrated blogs in this list!

SHARE this article with your friends and colleagues and let everyone know below which ones are your favorite!

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https://geniuslabgear.com/blogs/for-scientists/unique-gift-ideas-for-engineers2020-01-04T09:30:00-05:002020-04-10T17:59:39-04:007 Unique Graduation Gift Ideas for Engineers in 2020Derek Miller
Engineers are notoriously difficult to find gifts for. They tend to want things that are practical, functional and unique. As an engineer myself, I wanted to assemble what I think are the best gifts for engineers and engineering students. I hope this gift guide helps you finish your gift shopping faster than ever and brings a smile to an engineer’s face. Show them you understand their passion for engineering and support them when they geek out over your perfect gift.

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Engineers are notoriously difficult to find gifts for. They tend to want things that are practical, functional and unique. Being an engineer myself, I wanted to assemble what I think are the best gifts for engineers and engineering students. Whether it’s a graduation gift, birthday present or Christmas gift, I hope this gift guide helps you finish your gift shopping faster than ever and brings a smile to an engineer’s face. Show them you understand their passion for engineering and support them when they geek out over your perfect gift.

This list is a compilation of my favorites from around the internet. Some are our own Genius Lab Gear inventions and some we’re just jealous we didn’t think of first! Some external links in this page are from affiliates, which means that any purchase of the items after clicking the link will result in a small monetary referral fee paid back to Genius Lab Gear at no cost to you. We appreciate your support which allows us to continue inventing and testing the best tools for engineers on the planet!

1. The Pocket Scientist Engineering Pocket Ruler and Reference

The most practical and unique pocket tool for anyone with a technical STEM background. It’s the size of a typical credit card and packed with functionality and information that an engineer will need on daily basis. The laser-cut and laser-engraved stainless steel has a thick black enamel coating to prevent scratching and stand up to years of abuse. One of the best cheap gadget gifts that any engineer will geek out over. You can order directly through our site or on Amazon with the links below.

2. The best laser pointer and PowerPoint presenter on the planet

I’ve gone through a lot of shoddy laser pointers and slide advancers in my life. They are either glitchy, not user-friendly or just not powerful enough to see well in a large presentation room. Eventually I got fed up and spent several hours reading reviews and parsing through specs of every laser pointer on Amazon. I landed on this Dynofire green laser pointer with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, plus volume controls and slide controls. It’s the highest-end version from Dynofire and it’s worth every penny, yet still much cheaper than some other options like Logitech (and more highly rated). I’ve used it for over a year now and am extremely happy with it. Here are the perks:

The green laser is the most powerful that can be legally sold in the USA (6x more powerful than the red version).

The dual Bluetooth and USB connectivity ensures that it will work with many different computers; even tablets and phones.

The volume controls help prevent embarrassing seconds of blasting video sound or scrambling to the PC to get the volume just right in those tricky embedded videos.

The slide controls go forward and back plus include a button to blank the screen like a TED talk professional to bring the focus back to the speaker.

The USB rechargeable battery ensures you’ll never get caught out of juice.

The little notebook clip is a nice touch for securing it on your portfolio or your pocket.

The lucky wielder of such a tool can be sure command the presentation room and reduces the risk of awkward technical difficulties. Get the best one and it will last you for many years.

3. Science-themed stickers for laptops, thermoses or notebooks

Stickers help people silently express themselves wherever they go. They’ve become so popular with the younger generations because each one represents a little piece of who that person is or wants to be and can be communicated instantly even for the most introverted engineer. We have a growing collection of science-themed stickers that would be much-appreciated by any passionate engineer. Some of the stickers also include a small donation to a volunteer or non-profit group that is doing valuable progressive work in the science community. These stickers are waterproof vinyl, can be removed without leaving residue and are perfect for a laptop, a thermos, a notebook, car bumper or any other solid surface you could imagine.

4. Chemical-resistant and solvent-proof pens for field notebooks

Engineers’ field notebooks are worth their weight in gold. Unfortunately most ink won’t hold up to a sudden downpour or a solvent spill. A years’ worth of notes can easily be washed away. Many professional engineers are now turning to chemically stable, waterproof and fade-resistant pens to record their observations with confidence.

Fortunately, these Japanese-crafted Pigma Micron pens by Sakura contain the best ink on the market with an assortment of line sizes and colors to allow for flexibility in taking notes and illustrating observations in the engineers’ field notebook. The pens are touted by professionals around the world for their “archival” ink that is trusted by museum curators, artists, accountants and planner hobbyists. It dries quickly and won’t bleed through thin paper.

Any engineer who does hands-on work would love to have this toolset to take their record-keeping to a professional level. You can find a 12-pack of assorted colors on Amazon for around $23.

5. Rocketbook One cloud-connected paper notebook

This is what happens when engineers turn their skills toward something as archaic as the paper notebook. Rocketbook finally allows you to seamlessly integrate your hand-written notes with your digital life. Simply open their app to take a photo of each page of notes and the QR code and marked symbols on each page trigger the app to send the digitized page to any of the 9 pre-set digital destinations you choose. This includes Google Docs, OneNote, Evernote, Dropbox and even specific emails. Want a shortcut to send notes via email straight to your colleague or boss? This is what you’re looking for.

The Rocketbook One is the least expensive at around $12 and is a classic spiral notebook I personally use taking notes when on the move and even for brainstorming sessions. They also offer reusable versions to reduce paper waste for a little higher up-front cost.

6. Best books for engineers to read for pleasure (not textbooks!)

Engineers often get stuck in a loop of always reading technical documents, textbooks and journal articles. It’s important to occasionally break that cycle and dive into a book for pleasure. Below are a few of our favorite science-related books that will be an enjoyable read for any scientist or engineer.

The Martian by Andy Weir

This is our all-time favorite book that any scientist or engineer will enjoy reading. For such a technical book, it’s got an incredible plot yet isn’t overly dramatized (except a little at the end). No other fiction book has captured this much popularity while running through exact calculations, estimations and scientific principles just to keep someone alive. You’ll be rooting for Mark Watney and inspired by the idea that your technical knowledge could one day save your life.

She Engineers: Outsmart Bias, Unlock your Potential, and Create the Engineering Career of your Dreams by Stephanie Slocum

A perfect gift for a female engineer nearing graduation, this book helps to address a major issue not often discussed in school: the “boys” culture of engineering. The author has been an engineer in industry for over 15 years and gives practical strategies in an easy-to-read conversational tone to help any female engineer navigate the male-dominated workplace. It’s well-structured and filled with immediately applicable advice not only on excelling in your career but keeping work-life balance while you do it.

Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed by Ben Rich

A popular and highly-rated classic about the top secret “Skunk Works” engineering projects at Lockheed Martin that helped win the Cold War, written by the head of the division for two decades. It covers the pinnacle of high-pressure, high-stakes ultra-secretive engineering projects and the technological game of chess that the USA was playing with the Soviet Union in the 1970’s and 1980’s. It includes anecdotes and testimonials from high-ranking government officials and pilots on revolutionary projects like the SR-71 Blackbird, F-116 Stealth Fighter and U-2 spy plane.

This book is an enjoyable and inspiring read for any engineer who has a true passion for problem solving and cutting-edge technology. The reader will also take away valuable lessons for managing technical projects and teams of scientists and engineers to achieve nearly impossible goals.

More books for Graduate Students:

7. A thoughtful STEM gift box for scientists and engineers

Since we love the items in this list so much, we’ve created a few gift boxes with most of these items all in one. The best part is that each gift box actually costs less than one would pay to order each item individually (including non-Genius Lab Gear products)! We’ve taken advantage of bulk order discounts and free shipping thresholds to offer these invaluable tools to you at a lower price in one curated package. All gift boxes have free shipping in the USA!

The Delighted Genius Gift Box is our entry-level gift box that aims to put a smile on the face of the recipient by packaging our best-selling items with a pair of chemical and solvent-proof Sakura Gelly Roll pens and an enamel pin of your choice from Science on a Postcard. These are the items everyone posts on their social media about because they are so excited to receive them! It’s a fun gift set at an affordable price. Gift box packaging is optional via the drop-down menus.

The Unstoppable Genius Gift Box is hands-down the most meaningful gift in STEM that will resonate with anyone in research. It’s a collection of best-in-class tools and most-loved accessories for graduate students and STEM researchers. Included are items like our best-selling stickers that support several volunteer organizations along with productivity tools like the Rocketbook, the Thinkboard X, the Five Minute Journal and the best laser pointer on the market.

The Prolific Genius Gift Box will help any academic researcher kickstart their writing process and help get their ideas out into the world. We’ve filled it with our favorite writing tools focused on a steady, iterative and structured writing process to turn pent-up writing anxiety into measured successes. It’s perfect as a self care package or as an elevated and thoughtful gift to a colleague with a looming deadline on their next proposal or journal submission.

More gift collections for specific types of scientists:

We've further curated several collections of our own inventions depending on the type of scientist or engineer you're looking for. See these more niche collections below for more ideas!

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https://geniuslabgear.com/blogs/for-scientists/27-best-new-science-podcasts-20202020-01-04T09:30:00-05:002020-04-04T10:33:19-04:00The 27 best science podcasts of 2020 that are under the radarDerek MillerMore]]>

Want to hear what really happens in the lab, in science research and in graduate school? Forget the mega-podcasts and listen in to these up-and-coming independent scientists creating their own podcasts! You’ll get less advertisements and more truth from people much like you. It’s a special look into the day-to-day scientist life that big-name podcasts often don’t dive into. These podcasts cover science, biology, physics, chemistry and everything in between!

Learn how to deal with messy lab mates, how to ask your professor for more vacation, how to handle bias and racism in your university research setting and hundreds of stories of scientists in unique situations overcoming their own personal adversity.

Podcasts about scientific research:

Straight From A Scientist Podcast

Getting the story straight from a scientist without the media hyperbole and clickbait titles. Created by two friends in different Neuroscience PhD programs, the Straight from a Scientist podcast brings in young scientists to break down the popular storylines and get a true sense of the impacts and timelines of the research. One of our personal favorites because their passion for truthful science communication shines through in every episode.

Endocrine Disruptors Podcast

A brand new podcast in 2019 hosted by Katherine Hatcher (@grad_selfcare on Instagram), a PhD student in Neuroscience and Shreya Patel, a STEM career development advisor. Endocrine Disruptors is a weekly podcast that features stories of the scientists behind your favorite hormones. The show focuses on endocrinology and how hormones affect our everyday lives. This podcast is the first to come out of theSTEM Advocacy Institute’s(SAI) podcasting fellowship program, in partnership with Prasha from Her STEM Story.

Global Caveat Podcast

Global health scientists Diana and Susanna tackle topics in the global health sciences with each other and other humans to examine the connection between health and the sciences and how we have to work together for health, humanity, and the earth. The hosts definitely understand their field and are experts at tying together seemingly disconnected topics that have unseen effects on public health. Season 2 starting in September 2019

The Science of Self-Care Podcast

It feels like everything is self-care these days, so what actually works?! Each week, comedians Steven Polletta, Sophie Yalkezian and neuroscientistShannon Odellact as guinea pigs to a different self-care practice. They explore whether it works and the science behind it – with laughs along the way. One of the funniest podcasts on this list. It’s refreshing and unique to have non-scientists (especially comedians) interacting with a scientist. Season 1 episodes include the science of sleep, meditation and cupping.

The People’s Scientist Podcast

Neuroscientist Dr. Stephanie Caligiuri breaks down the latest health trends to distill out the scientific facts to give you evidence-based advice you can immediately apply to your every-day life. As a scientist from another field, this is the podcast I’ve always been looking for to get the through the misinformation surrounding current health trends and figure out what changes, if any, I should actually consider making in my habits.

Marine Conservation Happy Hour Podcast

A show where several marine scientists chat over a few drinks about saving our oceans, sustainable fishing, the interesting oddities of marine animals and the challenges of a marine biology/conservation career. The hosts’ passion for marine conservation really comes out in every episode while also keeping it fun and sometimes silly. Possibly the most entertaining way to learn about marine life and conservation.

Podcasts about scientists and the life of a STEM researcher

Her STEM Story Podcast

The Her STEM Story podcast focuses on the experiences of women in STEM fields. The host Prasha brings on women from all fields from graduate students to professionals to tell their stories. Topics range from the unique experience of being a women in a male-dominated field, to issues of bias, harassment or racism, to unlocking the motivations and inspirations that lead the guests down these paths. Not just for women, this podcast can also help men in these fields understand the perspectives and challenges of their female colleagues they may otherwise be blind to. Prasha does a great job of delving into sensitive topics yet coming out of the episode with a positive light and motivations for enacting change.

*If you’d like to support Her STEM Story’s website and hosting expenses, please see our Her STEM Story stickers, shirts and tote bags which all include a $2-$4 donation in the listed price. Free shipping in the USA.

STEM Culture Podcast

STEM Culture Podcast is focused on improving the culture of STEM by taking on topics that affect graduate students, postdocs, early career researchers and more. The varied hosts want to provide a platform to improve graduate school and STEM culture by demystifying the culture and highlighting stories of perseverance and persistence in STEM.

Double Shelix Podcast

Double Shelix is a podcast all about women in STEM, the grad school grind, and inclusive science. The hosts Sally and Kayla are PhD candidates in Bioengineering and want to help you find role models, be inspired, create inclusive STEM communities, develop professional skills, and share your love of science. This podcast does an exceptional job of finding guests from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences from students to professors to professionals that allow them to do deep dives into many interesting topics.

AcaDames Podcast

AcaDames is a biweekly podcast that explores whether being a woman in academia is a dream, game, or scam through interviews with a diverse range of women. Discussions cover career trajectories, finances, childbearing decisions, spirituality, the ever-present patriarchy, and everything in between.

Hosted by two female professors at UNC, this podcast makes you feel like you’re in the living room chatting with old friends. They stand out by being honest, open and genuinely caring about giving the best guidance to their audience.

Everything Hertz Podcast

A podcast by scientists, for scientists. Methodology, scientific life, and bad language. Co-hosted by Dr. Dan Quintana (biological psychiatry researcher at the University of Oslo) and Dr. James Heathers (bioinformatics and health researcher at Northeastern University). This podcast often focuses on academic research and best-practices in publishing and data analysis. They occasionally get into every-day problems faced by academic researchers and keep a humorous twist through all the topics. One of the more data analytics-focused podcasts on this list.

Podcasts about Graduate School:

Hello PhD Podcast

100+ episodes and counting, Hello PhD does a deep dive podcast on a new PhD-related topic each episode. Their PhD-focused podcast episodes range from productivity, dealing with your professors or advisor, mental health in grad school, popular research trends and every-day life in grad school. Joshua and Daniel are entertaining and excel and getting to the root of the problems to help the listeners understand the real issues.

Growing Through Grad School Podcast

A podcast about self-care & personal growth in graduate school with 4th year clinical psychology doctoral students Rebecca Miller, M.A. and Christian Mallett, M.S. This podcast is unique because the hosts take a holistic approach to well-being in grad school through reflections, work-life balance and including guided meditations. A great listen when you need to de-stress and gain a better perspective on your research.

This is Grad School Podcast

A podcast for grad students, by grad students. Two applied social psychology PhD students have casual conversations about issues relevant to graduate students in psychology and beyond. This is Grad School aims to provide a place for grad students to decompress, process, and discuss the real experiences graduate students have, both positive and negative. An honest and insightful podcast for incoming grad students or those considering graduate school.

PhDrinking Podcast

An interview-based podcast about life as a grad student (across all disciplines) and the groundbreaking research grad students conduct. The hostSadieis memory researcher, an unabashed fan of ethanol in all forms and gives each episode name a clever alcohol-themed name. Even if you’re not a drinker, the episodes shortly get into the technical details of each guests’ field.

Blk in Grad School Podcast

Blk + In Grad School is an audioblog created to encourage and inspire women + people of color to and through the grad school struggle. Follow Allanté, a regular, schmegular Black woman pursuing her Ph.D. This podcast delves into every-day problems for any grad student while also bringing a diverse perspective that will resonate with people of color.

Grad School Deconstructed Podcast

Grad School Deconstructed is a podcast that explores the trials and tribulations of graduate school in a new and innovative way. Stephanie Marder and Clark Ausloos share personal experiences, welcome various guests, and interact with you, the listeners, as they navigate both practical and taboo topics related to the graduate school experience.

PhD (in Progress) Podcast

A (now retired) podcast that entertains and informs graduate students (current, former, and future), focusing on the issues of the young academic community. They discuss the topics of thriving in graduate school, pursuing an academic or non-academic career, and introducing the resources capable of changing the way they believe graduate school should be. Though they aren’t releasing new episodes, the advice and topics they cover are timeless for your academic career.

PhDivas Podcast

Podcast about academia, culture, and social justice across the STEM/humanities divide. Dr. Liz Wayne and Dr. Christine "Xine" Yao are two women of color Ivy League PhDs navigating higher education. The pair started the podcast during their PhDs and are now both professors. Maybe the only academia podcast with co-hosts in such different fields (Biomedical Engineering vs. English Literature). The hosts do a great job of being entertaining while also informative.

5 to Life Podcast

Building a community of future, current, and past graduate students to support each other through this great adventure of the PhD. 5 to Life is not only about the commitment we are making to our field of study for the 5 years of grad school but our commitment to science for life. Hosted by several early-PhD students from Wake Forest, North Carolina, this podcast sis incredibly relatable and gives great advice for anyone starting their PhD.

Podcasts about societal issues in science and research:

Neuroethics Police Podcast

Katherine Bassil, an upcoming neuroscientist and neuroethics enthusiast, has always tried to advocate for bridging the fields of neuroscience and neuroethics together. The absence of similar enterprises from the community makes it even more difficult for Katherine to achieve her goal. The Neuroethics Police Podcast delves into new advances in neuroscience which bring up new ethics questions of where we should draw the line. What if we could transplant a human head to a donor body? What if we could engineer the brain? Is it OK to live forever? Katherine brings on knowledgeable guests and leads the audience through the science and the future ethics problems it could create.

Inside the Petri Dish Podcast

The podcast that puts science under the microscope and dissects the topics you want to learn more about. Hosted by three women scientists from the UK (including bloggerAlice Gray) that make a point to let their passions for science shine through. Season 2 started in 2019 witha fantastic live video episodeabout how to save the world. We’re excited to see where they take this series next!

Science Sucks Podcast

The science podcast that welcomes everyone! Episode topics range from science writing to sexuality to science policy. The host, Ive, is a neuroscientist who keeps the show fun while still digging into the most interesting details of each guest’s work.

Warm Regards Podcast

Two PhD scientists illuminating the science, myths and speculation behind climate change. They cover global warming from all angles and do an excellent job at presenting the technical data and information behind the popular headlines. Their 2020 theme is “data” including who’s collecting it, how it’s managed and how we should interpret it to make the best evidence-based policy decisions.

The Science Pawdcast

Do you like dogs? Do you like science? If so, this pawdcast is perfect for you! Canadian host Jason weaves dog jokes from his Burnese mountain dog into updates on the latest scientific studies and interviews with scientists doing interesting research in all fields. This show always leaves you in a good mood with a smile, which is rare in the podcast world. Also make sure to follow their hilarious and cute Twitter feed if you’re a dog lover!

In Defense of Plants Podcast

Plants are everything. They are also incredibly interesting. From the smallest duckweed to the tallest redwood, the botanical world is full of wonder. Join them for a podcast celebrating everything botany. This is a fantastic podcast for anyone who loves plants, no matter your science background.

How to safely listen to podcasts or music while doing lab work

Now that we've given you countless hours of enthralling listening content, you need to find time to listen!

Want to save time and listen to these podcasts while working in the lab? Headphones can be tricky and a safety hazard. Wired headphones often get caught on equipment or can knock over glassware and need strung through your shirt or lab coat. Bluetooth headphones are best but should not fully seal your ear and should not be noise-canceling. You need to hear alarms and communicate with those around you.

Our personal favorite is the one-earBluetooth MPow earpiece pictured above. It lasts for 4-6 hours, charges magnetically on a USB dongle, has a one-click button for pause/play and pairs quickly with your phone or laptop. The one-ear design lets you stay aware of your surroundings and it will be hard for the safety office or PI to argue that your headphones are a safety issue!

(This is a referral link, meaning that if you purchase these through this link we will get a small percentage of the sale from the manufacturer, at no cost to you, for referring you to their helpful product. Thank you for supporting this blog!)

Looking for gift ideas for a grad student or researcher?

We've further curated several collections of our own inventions depending on the type of researcher you're looking for. See these more niche collections below for more ideas!

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https://geniuslabgear.com/blogs/for-scientists/unique-gift-ideas-for-scientists2020-01-02T11:13:00-05:002020-04-10T17:56:10-04:009 Unique Graduation Gift Ideas for Scientists in 2020Derek MillerMore]]>
Scientists are tough to find gifts for. So for the upcoming graduation celebration, we’ve polled our group of scientists in several fields and stages of their careers to come up with the most practical and unique graduation gifts for scientists. This collection will show them that you understand their love of science and support them in their research and their passions.

This list ties together our favorite gifts for scientists from around the internet. Some are our own Genius Lab Gear inventions and some we’re just jealous we didn’t think of first! Some links in this page contain affiliate links, which means that any purchase of the items after clicking the link will result in a small monetary referral fee paid back to Genius Lab Gear at no cost to you. We appreciate your support which allows us to continue inventing and testing the best tools for scientists on the planet!

1. The Pocket Scientist and The Pocket Chemist

Scientist love things that are functional and these two tools are Genius Lab Gear original inventions that are both practical and unique. The size of your typical credit card, these laser-engraved stainless steel tools are packed with functionality and information that a scientist or chemist will use on daily basis and can keep in their wallet or purse. You can find these through our site or on Amazon with the links below.

The Pocket Scientist pocket ruler and equation reference

Your favorite scientist will never forget this unique gift! They will carry this credit card-sized science and engineering ruler with them every day for a lifetime. We even laser-engraved the backside full of basic science equations and physical constants. See the product page for a full list of features we've packed in!

The Pocket Chemist molecule stencil and chemistry homework helper

If you've already spent hours looking for gifts for chemists, biochemists or pre-med students, you can stop here.

"This would have made my life 10x easier!" - said one student during our first Instagram giveaway. The only solvent-proof and wallet-sized organic chemistry stencil available, this little tool will help your favorite scientist draw beautiful chemical reactions and leave a lasting impression on their TA's, professors or colleagues.

Not sure? It was even featured in the 2019 Holiday Gift Guide from the authority Chemical & Engineering News magazine.

To see how it's used, check the 45-second video below:

Get it with free shipping from our website or on Amazon using the links below!

2. The best laser pointer and PowerPoint presenter on the planet

I’ve gone through a lot of shoddy laser pointers and slide advancers in my life. They are either glitchy, not user-friendly or just not powerful enough to see well in a large presentation room. Eventually I got fed up and spent several hours reading reviews and parsing through specs of every laser pointer on Amazon. I landed on this Dynofire green laser pointer with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, plus volume controls and slide controls. It’s the highest-end version from Dynofire and it’s worth every penny, yet still much cheaper than some other options like Logitech (and more highly rated). I’ve used it for over a year now and am extremely happy with it. Here are the perks:

The green laser is the most powerful that can be legally sold in the USA (6x more powerful than the red version).

The dual Bluetooth and USB connectivity ensures that it will work with many different computers; even tablets and phones.

The volume controls help prevent embarrassing seconds of blasting video sound or scrambling to the PC to get the volume just right in those tricky embedded videos.

The slide controls go forward and back plus include a button to blank the screen like a TED talk professional to bring the focus back to the speaker.

The USB rechargeable battery ensures you’ll never get caught out of juice.

The little notebook clip is a nice touch for securing it on your portfolio or your pocket.

The lucky wielder of such a tool can be sure command the presentation room and reduces the risk of awkward technical difficulties. Get the best one and it will last you for many years.

3. Science-themed stickers for laptops, thermoses or notebooks

Stickers help people silently express themselves wherever they go. They’ve become so popular with the younger generations because each one represents a little piece of who that person is or wants to be and can be communicated instantly even for the most introverted scientist. We have a growing collection of science-themed stickers that would be much-appreciated by any passionate scientist. Some of the stickers also include a small donation to a volunteer or non-profit group that is doing valuable progressive work in the science community. These stickers are waterproof vinyl, can be removed without leaving residue and are perfect for a laptop, a thermos, a notebook, car bumper or any other solid surface you could imagine.

4. A tiny Bluetooth earpiece for listening to podcasts or music in the laboratory

Headphones in the laboratory can be tricky and a safety hazard. Wired headphones often get caught on equipment or can knock over glassware and need strung through your shirt or lab coat. Bluetooth headphones are best but should not fully seal your ear and should not be noise-canceling. You need to hear alarms and communicate with those around you.

My personal favorite is the one-ear Bluetooth MPow earpiece. It lasts for 4-6 hours, charges magnetically on a USB dongle, has a one-click button for pause/play and pairs quickly with your phone or laptop. The one-ear design lets you stay aware of your surroundings and it will be hard for the safety office or PI to argue that your headphones are a safety issue! It’s also one of the least expensive Bluetooth headphones on the market.

5. Science-themed wall art canvases

Do you know a scientist that could use a little more decoration in their home or work space? Scientists are often resistant to choosing artwork that is abstract or otherwise meaningless to them just to fill a space. That’s why we’ve enlisted several science artists to create beautiful artwork, both real and digital, that a scientist will appreciate both technically and aesthetically.

Our Science Art Collection includes work from several independent artists and your purchase will help support their budding careers. From stunning colorful microscope images of crystals to simple motivational quotes to gorgeous biological digital illustrations, you will find something to add some color and science to their life.

6. Chemical-resistant and solvent-proof pens for lab notebooks

Lab notebooks sitting near solvents and other chemicals are a recipe for disaster. A years’ worth of notes can easily be washed away by a clumsy researcher. The best way to protect a lab notebook from this kind of accident is to use chemically stable, waterproof and fade-resistant pens to record your observations.

Fortunately, these Japanese-crafted Pigma Micron pens by Sakura contain the best ink on the market with an assortment of line sizes and colors to allow for flexibility and creativity in keeping up your laboratory notebook. The pens are touted by professionals around the world for their “archival” ink that is trusted by museum curators, artists, accountants and planner hobbyists. It dries quickly and won’t bleed through thin paper.

Any scientist who regularly takes notes or keeps a laboratory notebook would love to have this toolset to take their record-keeping to a professional level. You can find a 12-pack of assorted colors on Amazon for around $23.

7. Rocketbook One cloud-connected paper notebook

This is my favorite clever invention. It was inevitable. Rocketbook finally solved the problem of merging your hand-written notes into your favorite digital services. You simply use their app to take a photo of your pages of notes and the QR code and marked symbols on each page trigger the app to send the digitized page to any of the 9 pre-set digital destinations you choose. This includes OneNote, Evernote, Google Drive, Dropbox and even specific emails. Want a shortcut to send notes via email straight to your colleague or boss? This is what you’re looking for.

The Rocketbook One is the least expensive and is a classic notebook I personally use for meetings and brainstorming. They also have reusable versions that can help reduce paper waste for a little higher up-front cost. I personally use the Rocketbook One with these Muji gel ink pens that for some reason feel perfectly compatible with their type of paper.

8. Books to read for pleasure (not textbooks!)

Scientists often get stuck in a loop of always reading technical documents, textbooks and journal articles. It’s important to occasionally break that cycle and dive into a book for pleasure. Below are a few of our favorite science-related books that will be an enjoyable read for any scientist or engineer.

This is our all-time favorite book that any scientist or engineer will enjoy reading. For such a technical book, it’s got an incredible plot yet isn’t overly dramatized (except a little at the end). No other fiction book has captured this much popularity while running through exact calculations, estimations and scientific principles just to keep someone alive. You’ll be rooting for Mark Watney and inspired by the idea that your technical knowledge could one day save your life.

The last book Stephen Hawking will ever write. Published six months after his death in 2018, this short masterpiece is a hopeful, practical look at the future of our civilization based on what physics and astronomy have taught us to-date. We particularly enjoyed how well he brought complex physics problems down to earth and clearly conveyed the challenges ahead. Subjects he tackles include artificial intelligence, climate change, colonizing space and our own self-destruction. He does an exceptional job of separating his own opinions from scientific facts. It’s a fun read that will leave you thinking about these big-picture ideas for many weeks after.

Think of this as a detailed picture book for adults or late teenagers. It’s a beautiful yet heartbreaking work of art telling the story of both Marie and Pierre Curie, from their research to their romance and ultimately their deaths. It’s relevant, entertaining and inspiring in an entirely unconventional way. A great read for a professional or a budding young scientist, especially one who will be inspired by the gender-based challenges that Marie Curie overcame to become one of the greatest scientists of all time.

More books for Graduate Students:

9. A thoughtful STEM gift box for scientists and engineers

Since we love the items in this list so much, we’ve created a few gift boxes with most of these items all in one. The best part is that each gift box actually costs less than one would pay to order each item individually (including non-Genius Lab Gear products)! We’ve taken advantage of bulk order discounts and free shipping thresholds to offer these invaluable tools to you at a lower price in one curated package. All gift boxes have free shipping in the USA!

The Delighted Genius Gift Box is our entry-level gift box that aims to put a smile on the face of the recipient by packaging our best-selling items with a pair of chemical and solvent-proof Sakura Gelly Roll pens and an enamel pin of your choice from Science on a Postcard. These are the items everyone posts on their social media about because they are so excited to receive them! It’s a fun gift set at an affordable price. Gift box packaging is optional via the drop-down menus.

The Unstoppable Genius Gift Box is hands-down the most meaningful gift in STEM that will resonate with anyone in research. It’s a collection of best-in-class tools and most-loved accessories for graduate students and STEM researchers. Included are items like our best-selling stickers that support several volunteer organizations along with productivity tools like the Rocketbook, the Thinkboard X, the Five Minute Journal and the best laser pointer on the market.

The Prolific Genius Gift Box will help any academic researcher kickstart their writing process and help get their ideas out into the world. We’ve filled it with our favorite writing tools focused on a steady, iterative and structured writing process to turn pent-up writing anxiety into measured successes. It’s perfect as a self care package or as an elevated and thoughtful gift to a colleague with a looming deadline on their next proposal or journal submission.

More gift collections for specific types of scientists:

We've further curated several collections of our own inventions depending on the type of scientist you're looking for. See these more niche collections below for more ideas!